Tyson Fury took Wladimir Klitschko’s three heavyweight championship belts via unanimous decision in 2015. Fury then put himself through hell.

Twice, rematches with Klitschko were canceled – once because Fury allegedly sustained an ankle injury, the second time because Fury was deemed medically unfit to fight.

In truth, it was all because of his declining mental health.

Fury, who in 2016 told Rolling Stone he has a form of bipolar disorder, had begun to self-destruct. He drank every day, snorted cocaine and ballooned up to 400 pounds. He also contemplated suicide.

Fury was stripped of one of the titles for agreeing to a rematch with Klitschko instead of signing to fight his mandatory challenger, and Fury vacated the other two to focus on his treatment for depression and drugs and alcohol.

Today, nearly three years after the victory over Klitschko, Fury is just over a month away from challenging Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) for his heavyweight title Dec. 1 at Staples Center (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Considering where he was, it hardly seems possible he is close to having another mega boxing moment.

“Cocaine, drink, late nights, prostitutes, whatever you want,” Fury said during an exclusive interview Thursday at Churchill Gym in Santa Monica.

But the proud 6-foot-9 Fury, an Irish Traveler born and raised in England, is winning this battle.

“It’s been the most difficult fight I’ve ever had to fight,” he said. “And it wasn’t a physical battle, it was a mental battle I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

One could see how much this all means to Fury, so I let him know that I have been in recovery from alcohol for 28 years.

“You know how hard it is to stay on the straight and narrow path,” he said. “But I’ve been on this path now for over 12 months and I’ve turned my career around and life around.

“I’ve made people happy around me again. And most of all, I’m happy myself, just to be standing here fit and healthy and in the right state of mind.”

Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) stunned the boxing world when he defeated Klitschko. There was no doubt he won, no controversy about the decision. Considering he was the underdog, it was quite the crowning glory.

Still, it was no surprise to hear Fury’s response when he was asked which is more important to him – the win over Klitschko, or his ongoing victory over drugs, alcohol and depression.

“I think the personal fight is more important because Wladimir Klitschko or Deontay Wilder, they’re only boxing contests,” Fury said. “And after we finish, we can go home. But what I was facing, I was taking home, too. … And I couldn’t handle it.”

Sign up for Home Turf and get exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here.

As for all the weight he gained, well, that was also too much too handle.

“I’m down to 260 pounds now,” said Fury, who has lost 140 pounds. “Yeah, it was very difficult. I sacrificed a long period of time, over a year, getting into this shape and I’m still going on a day-to-day basis. I have trained hard, I feel great.”

In more ways than one.

“I’m strong, I’m fit, I’m fast,” he said. “I’m really, really, really, really enjoying life at the moment. I don’t think I’ve ever really enjoyed my life as much as I have in 2018; it’s been one of the best years of my whole life.”

Fury, 30, has fought twice since starting his comeback from his living hell. He stopped Sefer Seferi after four rounds in June and won a unanimous decision over Francesco Pianeta in August.

His trainer, Ben Davison, likes what he’s seen, particularly from a fitness level.

“I think physically alone you can see how far Tyson Fury has come,” said Davison, who guided Fury to his two victories this year.

“That takes a lot of willpower and dedication. He’s put a lot of work in just physically, and that’s really just a slice of what he’s shown in the gym.”

There was one worrisome element to this time spent with Fury. He admitted he is not 100 percent sober from alcohol.

“I’m not a complete teetotalman,” he said. “I can still go for a beer with the guys and enjoy meself. But it got to a position where I was doing it every day. And that’s too much. A few times, celebrate an occasion is fine. Don’t do it on a daily basis. It’s not great.”

Every situation is different. But we’re hopeful Fury isn’t one of those people who thinks it’s OK to have a beer now and then, only to see him fall right back into the despair that comes with getting lost in the bottle.

Etc.

Manny Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) of the Philippines has signed with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, and Pacquiao is tentatively slated to defend his welterweight belt against former champion Adrien Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs) of Cincinnati on Jan. 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. … Daniel Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs) of Brooklyn and Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs) of Ukraine on Saturday will tanglefor a vacant middleweight title from Madison Square Garden (on HBO).

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.